Chapter 360 Chapter 4 Walking in the Snow

Covered in snow, Kou Zhong crossed the threshold and re-entered the hall, the statues of the four monks turned into Maitreya Buddha and the other four clay statues of gods besides the four heavenly kings, standing silently. Kou Zhong glanced at Xu Ziling with concern.Putting the sword back into its sheath, he said chicly: "Only one of us can successfully borrow the kindness of the masters to leave the palace. This battle may be regarded as a peace. Ha! How do you calculate it?" Jiaxiang's withered and slender face showed a smile that didn't care about success or failure, and he said kindly: "It's so good! How can monks care about every detail. Staying is also a Buddha, and going is also a Buddha. Stay because of fate, go with fate. "

Master Daoxin laughed and said: "Dream empty flowers, why bother to catch them? Gains and losses are right and wrong, let it go for a while. The two benefactors cherish it!" The snow fell bigger and denser, and the flake-like snowflakes fell lightly and freely with the wind, transforming the human world into a pure, blurred and touching strange world. The two stepped out of the Zhishan Temple, the sound of the monks chanting scriptures in the Daxiong Hall still came like a tidal wave, cadenced. Almost in no particular order, they each spewed out a mouthful of blood, and two blood-red spots appeared on the ground covered with thick white snow.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling looked at each other and smiled, both felt relieved, so relaxed that they wanted to sing a song. Kou Zhong wiped the blood from his mouth, and said as he walked: "Young Master Ling is really good, and his timing is more accurate than his grandma's, otherwise we will walk out like two roosters in a fight. Victory and defeat are just a thin line. Difference." Xu Ziling said: "We have learned more today than in the past ten days combined. The unique knowledge of Buddhism is indeed extensive and profound. Fortunately, we have made great progress compared to the battle with the witch Zhu and the witch in Nanyang that day. Otherwise, it's just Master Jiaxiang's motherly 'one-finger meditation' that can beat us to pieces."

The two walked across the streets and alleys in the direction of Luo River and Tianjin Bridge.The excitement of Chuxue has long since disappeared, and the number of pedestrians on the street has decreased greatly. If it is not necessary, the residents of Luoyang will return home, and take the company of the warm stove to drive away the wind and cold. Kou Zhong let out a long breath, and said: "At the moment when the top experts in Buddhism and Taoism are gathered in Luoyang, no matter how conceited Shi Zhixuan is, he dare not act rashly. Let's take this opportunity to go north immediately. My younger brother will go to Wang Shichong for arrangements now, and young master Ling will find The khan and the prince report good news, and I will come and find you."

Of course Xu Ziling had no intention of staying in Luoyang, and the two split up after expressing their agreement.The former goes straight to the south bank of the Luohe River. In the heavy snow, the boats on the Luohe River continue to come and go, driving slowly through the snow, but it seems to belong to another spatial level.The weeping willows and ancient trees on the shore are all covered with new snow-white clothes. This white world is both open and extremely hidden and mysterious. For a while, Xu Ziling stared blankly, reluctant to leave suddenly. Shi Feixuan's gentle voice sounded beside him and said, "The battle at Zhishan Temple will make Ziling famous all over the world, but I don't know what to do in the future?"

Xu Ziling turned his head and saw that under the backdrop of pure white snowflakes and snow, Concubine Shixuan dressed in men's clothing looked more like a fairy descending from the world, and the whole world was transformed into a fairyland because of her sudden appearance.Slightly smiled and said: "We just succeeded in our cunning, so we are not proud. Seeing the joy of the young lady, she seems to be happy for our lucky escape, isn't it strange?" Concubine Shixuan slightly shrugged her shoulders, her posture and expression were as charming as possible, she rolled her eyes at him and said: "Xu Ziling and Kou Zhong have never been enemies in Feixuan's heart, fighting with you is just like playing a game, why bother with the gains and losses of the game. As early as when Feixuan invited the four old men to come out of the mountain, she already had all the words of resignation. What's more, the situation in Guanzhong has changed drastically, which is not good for King Qin. If you two enter the pass to make trouble today, maybe you will create another situation. The cause and effect are difficult material."

Xu Ziling said: "That's how it is! But if we can really take away Yang Gong's treasure, will Miss still stand still and not bury it?" Shi Feixuan sighed softly: "Feixuan really doesn't want to think about things so far away, does Ziling understand how she feels?" Xu Ziling's heart trembled slightly, these few words, from Senior Sister Xuan's mouth, were enough to show that she was not without affection for him, and only then would she have the last question. Concubine Shi Xuan looked at him intently and said: "Nowadays Li Jiancheng's prince clan is becoming more and more powerful, and has the support of Xieli, while Shi Zhixuan is making troubles in secret, and Li Yuan is taking sides. The situation is extremely complicated, and you still insist on breaking through the barrier , is really unwise."

Xu Ziling nodded and said: "Thank you for your concern, Miss, but as long as Miss doesn't take action against us personally, or ask Ning Daoqi or Master Kongren to stop us, we will be grateful." Concubine Shixuan showed a helpless and bitter smile, and did not answer him. Xu Ziling faintly grasped her delicate and contradictory mood, and changed the subject: "Little brother has one more request." Concubine Xuan smiled and said, "Xu Ziling would ask for it, should Concubine Xuan be overjoyed?" Xu Ziling couldn't help laughing, and couldn't help joking: "You are a fairy, I am a mortal, and mortals have wishes that cannot be fulfilled, shouldn't they ask the fairy for help?"

Concubine Shi Xuan smiled and said: "It's rare to see Ziling in such a good mood, he actually imitated Kou Zhong's tone to tease Concubine Xuan, be careful that Concubine Xuan will not listen." Xu Ziling's heart was open, and he felt a lot closer to this beauty.He said calmly: "I just want to ask Miss to think of a way so that Tuli Khan can return to the Khan court safely!" Concubine Shi Xuan glanced at him, pursed her lips and said with a light smile, "Ah! It turns out that you are planning to sneak into Chang'an by building plank roads openly and sneaking into Chang'an."

Xu Ziling sighed pleasantly: "Miss is amazingly intelligent, she only asks me to see us clearly." Concubine Shi Xuan smiled, and said in a calm and soft tone: "Whether Khan can return to the Khan Court safely is related to the ups and downs of the Turks and the Middle Earth. The attention of the common people is no less than that of Feixuan. Don't worry! Feixuan specially invites out the scattered people and his old man, just to target Shi Zhixuan. In the whole world, I am afraid that only his old man and the four masters can make Shi Zhixuan have three points of scruples. You also have to be careful, Shi Zhixuan will never miss the relic of the Holy Emperor in the treasure."

He said again: "Hey! Up to now, even if Feixuan is planning and calculating for you, I still can't think of any clever tricks you can use, but under the watchful eyes of Li Jiancheng, sneaked into Chang'an without anyone noticing?" Xu Ziling turned his eyes to the depths of the vast snowstorm on the other side, and said softly: "We will leave Luoyang immediately, and we will bid farewell to this place. I hope that we will see you again in Guanzhong. At that time, we hope that we will be friends rather than enemies. Then there will be no regrets.” The concubine Xuanhe said: "The heart is the Buddha, the heart is the Buddha, all living beings, the Bodhi troubles, the name is different from the real one; the three realms of the road, only the heart is manifested, how can there be birth and death? You can know it, and it is omnipresent. Prepare. Brother Ziling, be careful in everything, don't force yourself, Feixuan won't send you off!" As Xu Ziling traveled west along the river, his heart was still filled with the heart-stirring beauty of his senior sister Xuan. Every time I talk to her, I seem to get a lot of enlightenment. What she said not only implied mystery, but also had profound philosophy.All kinds of joys and sorrows in this world, and the joys, anger, sorrows and joys of sentient beings, are in the final analysis nothing more than the manifestation of people's own minds.Like a flower in a mirror, it is fleeting and illusory in the water.As long as you can see through these things, what else is there to miss?Although this view is pessimistic, there is an unassailable truth in it.Because the truth is true, it's just that all beings are obsessed with it! But why she said these words when she was parting, whether she was reminding him, and also to alert herself, it is really interesting. "Master Xu"! Xu Ziling secretly felt ashamed, because he was so focused on Shi Feixuan that he didn't notice anyone coming out of the bushes. When the visitor arrived at his side, he said happily, "Finally found Mr. Xu!" It turned out to be Liu Heitai's handsome and pleasant subordinate, Qiu Tongtong who is good at using throwing knives. Xu Ziling was surprised and said: "So it's Miss Tongtong, did Brother Liu come too!" Qiu Tongtong's pretty face blushed for some reason, and said impressively: "You can just call me Tongtong, and the commander-in-chief also calls people like this. The commander-in-chief didn't come, it was the king who came, and he was anxious to meet Master Xu and the young commander-in-chief." meeting." Xu Ziling was shocked, it was Dou Jiande who came to Luoyang personally to discuss important matters with Wang Shichong, but this old fox kept it from them. After half a quarter.Xu Ziling saw this world-shaking overlord on a warship moored nearby. Dou Jiande was in his forties, with a slender figure, a calm demeanor, thick black hair and beard, a strange and graceful quality in his composure, his eagle-like eyes contained profound insight, and his demeanor was intimidating. After stepping away from the left and right, the two sat down in the cabin. Dou Jiande sighed deeply: "Hei Kai often praised you in front of me, but I was still dubious at the time. This kind of free and easy, natural, unpretentious, but flawless movement and stillness posture, I am convinced. I, Dou Jiande, have read countless people in my life, but I only had the same feeling from the 'sanren' Ning Daoqi." Xu Ziling was most afraid of being praised and flattered in person, and felt quite embarrassed.However, this Emperor Xia was not as imposing as Wang Shichong, and he had already won his favor by saying that he was lonely.With a wry smile, he said, "Your Majesty, please don't praise me as a junior. I don't know if Your Majesty wants to make an alliance with Wang Shichong when he comes to Luoyang this time?" Dou Jiande's eagle eyes flashed coldly, showing his unfathomable skill, and he said coldly, "I have absolutely no affection for a perfidious villain like Wang Shichong. It's just that Tang is strong and Zheng is weak, so he will definitely not support him. Zheng Ruosheng, Xia It must be difficult to be good alone, and if you want to fight for the world, you have to temporarily deal with this despicable villain and defend against powerful enemies together." These words are waiting to admit that he has formed an alliance with Wang Shichong. Dou Jiande seemed unwilling to discuss this matter further, and changed the subject: "Why did Marshal Kou not go with Ziling, can we see each other? I still have to discuss matters with Wang Shichong tonight, and leave tomorrow morning." Xu Ziling said apologetically, "I'll talk to him about it, but we have to leave the city immediately to avoid powerful enemies. I'm afraid it will be difficult to spare time." Dou Jiande nodded understandingly and said: "I will stay on the boat until dusk, Ziling will take care of it! Hei Kai said that you and Yu Wenhua and your hatred are as deep as seas, I wonder if it is true?" Xu Ziling's eyes flashed with murderous intent, he nodded and said in a deep voice, "This is something I always keep in mind." A cruel smile appeared on the corner of Dou Jiande's mouth, and he said, "Okay! Now Xu Yuanlang has surrendered to me, Dou, and only Yu Wenhuaji is still stubbornly resisting. No matter how Ziling and the young commander think of me, Dou Jiande, I always We regard you as the brothers of the Heidi. We are all our own people, so what is wrong with the discussion? After your trip to Guanzhong, please come to us so that we can discuss the plan to deal with the Yuwen Clan.” Xu Ziling exclaimed inwardly that when it comes to buying people's hearts, Dou Jiande is a hundred times better than Wang Shichong and Li Zitong. The most admirable thing is that he never mentions Yang Gong's treasure, or who surrenders to whom.There was nothing else to say at the moment, so I had to nod in agreement. Dou Jiande is a person who doesn't talk nonsense, so he personally sent him to the shore, and introduced the accompanying servant Liu Bin and the general Ling Jing who accompanied him. .The two were polite and kind to Xu Ziling. Dou Jiande reached out to look at Xu Ziling's shoulder, and said with a long smile, "When you see Ziling, you can imagine Kou Zhongxiong's heroic look. The day the two of you arrive in Daxia is the time when Dou Jiande greets you face to face, cherish it!" When Xu Ziling rushed back, Kou Zhong, Fu Qian, Tu Li, and Xing Mofei were worried about his safety, seeing him coming back, they immediately let go of their hearts. As soon as they set off, the five people sat in the carriage waiting in the courtyard, and the people sent by Wang Shichong drove off in the snow. Kou Zhong asked him why he was late, Xu Ziling told about seeing Dou Jiande, Kou Zhong said distressedly: "Unless I have the skill of avatar, otherwise I have to save one side." Then he said with great interest: "What kind of person is he?" Both Fuqian and Tuli showed attention, waiting for Xu Ziling's answer. Xu Ziling smiled wryly: "I usually judge people purely by feeling, I'm afraid I can't be sure." Kou Zhong said with a smile: "Master Ling's feeling has always been effective like a god." Xu Ziling showed a thoughtful expression, and said: "If there is no Li Shimin, or if the Li family loses the geographical advantage of Guanzhong, then the world will definitely be Dou Jiande's world." Kou Zhong and others were all moved. Tu Li laughed and said, "Why didn't Ziling say that Li Shimin and Kou Zhong didn't exist? Aren't you afraid of hurting the young marshal's heart?" Xu Ziling shook his head and said: "Because I understand Kou Zhong, because of Liu Heita's relationship, it is very difficult for him to be an enemy of Dou Jiande." Fu Qian patted Kou Zhong on the shoulder vigorously, gave a thumbs up and said, "Just listening to Young Master Ling's words, you can tell that the young commander is a good man who values ​​friendship." Xing Mofei couldn't help but said: "What kind of person is Dou Jiande himself, that he can be so respected by Master Ling?" Xu Ziling said solemnly: "This man is scheming but also approachable. He is similar to Xiao Xian; he is open-minded and magnanimous, and he is like Li Shimin when he knows people and uses them well; he is a hero, he does not care about success or failure, and he is like Shi Fuwei. If you go to the rivers and lakes, you must be a hero. The flow is pleasing to the eye." Kou Zhong patted the table and sighed: "No wonder Big Brother Liu is willing to work for him." Fu Qian sighed: "Now in the area north of the Yellow River, Dou Jiande is the number one. Meng Haigong of Caozhou and Li Wenxiang who occupied Mengjin were all shattered by him one after another. Xu Yuanlang, who was in charge of the city, also surrendered to him. , Ouyang Xun, Liu Bin and other counselors set up an official court system for him, and his soldiers were well-trained, with more than 200,000 people, and they were indeed capable of confronting the Tang Dynasty head-on. With the help of Ziling, who in the world will belong, and who can predict?" Tu Li nodded and said: "Except for the young marshal, it is indeed Dou Jiande, not Wang Shichong, that King Qin fears the most." Kou Zhong sighed: "It's just that Du Fuwei has surrendered to Li Xiaozi and the people, creating a favorable situation for attacking Luoyang, otherwise, if you give Li a boy the courage to come west and attack Luoyang, the eastern capital with the most powerful defense in the world. " The five of them looked at Luoyang, where the wind and snow were all over the window, at the same time, and each had their own feelings. Fu Qian pondered and said: "Surrender in a war, Du Fuwei's Jianghuai force is invincible. Is surrender just a way to delay troops?" Kou Zhong smiled bitterly and said: "I also hope that Lao Du is just playing a game of surrender with Li Xiaozi, but I hate the truth. Du Fuwei may not be a benevolent person, but he is a tyrannical overlord who has a beginning and an end, and keeps what he says." At this time, the carriage arrived at the pier, and three warships were waiting for the arrival of the five people. Qin Shubao and Cheng Yaojin personally opened the door to welcome the five people to get off the carriage.Two brothers Wang Xuanying and Wang Xuangan came to see him off on behalf of Wang Shichong, but Yang Gongqing and Zhang Zhenzhou were not there.Just as he was about to board the ship after some polite words, the sound of hooves sounded, and the three riders galloped towards them bravely in the wind and snow. Everyone stared at the sun, the one in the middle was Li Xiuning, princess of the Tang Dynasty, and the two on the left and right were Li Jing and Hong Funu. Surprised and delighted, Kou Zhong was the first to meet him.